This is our round-up of destinations that have either been dubbed as trending for this year by travel and industry experts, or that we have chosen based on anniversaries or celebrations in the regions. Take a look and get some destination inspiration for the year!

Croatia

Croatia boasts 1,250 mi of coastline, over 1,000 islands, and 8 national parks. And this month, the new James Bond film is filming in Dubrovnik! It’s been chosen as one of the top emerging destinations for 2018 by Forbes and by Skyscanner.

With over two-thirds of the region protected by the Triglav National Park, Slovenia’s Julian Alps have been tipped by Lonely Planet as one of the world’s top three must-visit regions for 2018. Admire iconic Lake Bled and its medieval castle.

2018 marks the centenary of the end of WW1. Poignant reminders of the fighting between Italy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire litter the limestone Italian mountains of the Dolomites. An interesting and beautiful destination.

Malta’s historic capital Valletta has been granted European Capital of Culture status. This vibrant city is only a short ferry ride away from its more tranquil sister, Gozo. Why not spend extra nights in Valletta and experience its history?

Portugal’s second largest city boasts an array of magnificent architecture, including the third most beautiful bookstore in the world, the Lello Bookstore (Livraria Lello), which inspired JK Rowling for her Harry Potter series.

We are pleased to join the Visit Norway tourism board and Paramount theaters in promoting the beautiful country of Norway! Today’s release of Alexander Payne’s film, Downsizing, features Norway as the ultimate destination of the film’s main characters as they ponder life as “downsized” or smaller versions of their normal size. In this film, a Norwegian scientists invents a new technology to reduce the size of humans in hopes of conserving more of the environments resources while also making them instantly wealthy.

Get a taste of Norway’s incredible natural beauty in the short video produced by Visit Norway in conjunction with Paramount here.

Visit Norway will be running a sweepstakes with Norwegian Air to give away four premium tickets to Norway through the end of January.

Geiranger fjord, Beautiful Nature Norway. It is a 15-kilometre (9.3 mi) long branch off of the Sunnylvsfjorden, which is a branch off of the Storfjorden (Great Fjord).

Invigorating guided walks through UNESCO-protected landscapes are rewarded with awe-inspiring scenery around every turn: waterfalls, mountains, crystal-clear lakes and Europe’s largest glacier. Includes all breakfasts, lunches and evening meals.

The lazy days of summer are coming to an end, the sun is shining, the hum of lawnmowers can be heard throughout neighborhoods and school is just about (or already) back in session. It’s a great time to reset, refresh and look ahead to the coming 2017/2018 year.

Our selection of guided walks are filling up quickly for the fall (there is limited availability, so it’s worth inquiring right away) or maybe, if you prefer to plan ahead, why not take a look at what is available in 2018?

The Douro, Portugal: Image captured from the road some kilometers to the west of Oporto, the image shows the Douro river and his vineyards.

Portuguese wine is the result of traditions introduced by ancient civilizations; the Basto and Douro regions remain two of the main wine-producing regions of Portugal, complete with wonderful landscapes and a rich history to discover. This walking tour takes us from the atmospheric city of Porto, through the UNESCO World Heritage Douro Valley, where famous port wine is produced and on to the Terras de Basto, home of Portugal’s ‘young’ vinho verde wine. With leisurely walks, wine tastings and cultural visits throughout, this tour is the perfect introduction to the country that once dominated world trade routes.

Just an hour’s drive north of Venice, in the foothills of the Dolomites, is one of the world’s best yet largely undiscovered wine regions. Here ancient terraced vineyards clinging to the sides of every possible slope are dedicated exclusively to grapes for Italy’s most prized sparkling wine: Prosecco. Based in an elegant converted villa, located in the heart of the so called ‘Prosecco Road’ – Italy’s oldest wine route – we spend a week walking through picturesque rolling hills and sampling the area’s delicious cuisine and authentic bubbles. We also visit charming medieval villages such as Cison, Follina, Asolo as well as the beautiful capital province of Treviso.

Experience the best bits of an unspoiled European gem where mountains rise dramatically from warm coastal waters, a UNESCO listed national park reveals the worlds second deepest canyon and waterside Venetian towns await discovery.

The small village of Villabassa, just north of Cortina d’Ampezzo, is nestled close to the Austrian border and sandwiched between the spectacular, jagged limestone peaks of the Dolomites. From here we enjoy an excellent choice of routes with the opportunity to relax in comfort at the end of a day’s walking. During the week, we venture into the Fanes-Sennes and Dolomiti di Sesto National Parks for great views of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo. Historically the front line between Italy and Austria-Hungary during the First World War, the trails take us each day through incredible open-air museums.

Located on the Franco-Italian border, on the edge of the warm Mediterranean sea, Menton is a delight for any visitor. It is easy to see how it earned its nickname ‘The Pearl of France,’ combining a city of gardens, seaport, beach resort and a paradise for hikers all rolled into one! With the Alpine chain dropping into the sea at the level of French/Italian border, it is also an ideal location for a guided walking holiday. Many of the trails start directly from the town and gain altitude in a short distance, offering some of the finest views of the French Riviera.

In the heart of the Mediterranean lie Puglia and Basilicata, two unique and still largely undiscovered regions of Italy nestled between the emerald waters of the Adriatic and Ionian seas. This trip gives us the chance to explore the very best that these Italian gems have to offer, from the rock churches and UNESCO Sassi district of the beautiful city of Matera, to the fairytale Trulli houses of the lush Itria valley and the white hilltop town of Ostuni. Aside from the perfect mix of cultural discovery and gentle walking, we will have the chance to sample the legendary local cuisine and delicious wines that make this region a true food lovers’ paradise.